Our server was super friendly and we never had a shortage of water…read more The restaurant had a nice vibe, with a cool deconstructed Vespa on the wall. Lots of open air flowing into the space. The asparagus in my pasta was well grilled, some of the best asparagus I've had. The pasta was also very flavorful as well.

Although I am a new customer, I've been loyal to Peanut Park for the past six months and have…read morerecommended it to many friends and family. Up until tonight, my experiences had always been positive and the food was fantastic. Unfortunately, this visit was more than disappointing. I ordered a salad I've had at least a dozen times before, accept I added grilled chicken on top. I live for this salad and was just there maybe three weeks ago. Unaware that they have changed their menu, I ordered as usual. The name of the salad has not changed on the menu, but apparently the ingredients had been completely altered. When the dish arrived, to my surprise, it was drastically different and not something I enjoyed at all. I politely informed our server, who was kind and accommodating, and offered to replace the dish. However, it was now 6 p.m. we had tickets to see The Wiz at 7 p.m. and didn't have time to wait for another order, which I also informed her. I asked if the salad could be removed from the bill since it was essentially untouched. The server checked with the owner, who refused to remove the $30 salad or offer any kind of discount. When a restaurant changes a dish but keeps the same name, it creates a reasonable expectation for returning customers. When that expectation isn't met, basic customer service should step in. What makes this even more frustrating is that the restaurant was willing to prepare an entirely new dish, but not willing to remove the uneaten one from the bill. That simply isn't logical. If you're prepared to replace an item, it clearly acknowledges there was an issue, so refusing to comp or adjust the original charge is unreasonable. That decision was extremely disappointing. I, in-turn made the decision to eat only the additional grilled chicken on top, leaving the rest of the salad, paying the full bill and promptly getting out of there so we could be on time for our show. The only positive part of the experience was our server, who handled the situation with professionalism and kindness. Sadly, the new menu leaves much to be desired and this experience has cost Peanut Park my business and my referrals going forward.

We've been going to Tufano's easily for 40 years + Always…read morebefore a Blackhawk game Went back on Thursday and it's AMAZING, same great service, same chalkboard menu and homemade Italian Joey hasn't changed a bit, it's his place and you're his guest Our family absolutely loves it and it's a must go for us Can't wait for our next trip to Chicago

The Free Valet was the real hero of the night, but since that isn't edible, I'll focus on the food…read more It's hard for me to find a pasta I don't like, and this was no exception. Solid Chicken Parmigiana, and the Alfredo was tasty too. They loaded up on the Bruschetta which I appreciate. Our waitress was very laid back and casual, which I appreciate, but that also came with a relaxed service. Some folks might not be into that, but I wasn't in a hurry so I enjoyed it. Overall a solid space, and I look forward to going back and trying more of the menu

First time visiting the Windy City, we came to the city for the great eats! I'll Porcellino…read morecertainly did not disappoint! For appetizers, we ordered the While Garlic Loaf Focaccia and the Stuffed mushrooms. I wished I took a video when the focaccia arrived. The waiter, holding a plate with a round and fluffy focaccia and proceeded to pour the garlic et al on top of the bread! Very freshly-made and fabulous! The stuffed mushrooms were also cute delicious! This is a rare time where the stuffing had spinach below the stuffing - excellent! I remember seeing (and enjoying) this while I visited Italy. Delightful! The main courses we ordered were the Gnocchi Bolognese, the Baked Burrata Lasagna and the Barolo Braised Short Rib. The Gnocchi meat sauce was the standout here, being very flavorful, but not as heavy as some other restaurants. The Gnocchi were dense - not fluffy as I had expected. But the sauce flavor was vivid. The Baked Burrata Lasagna was oh, so perfect! Many layers of al dente pasta separates with a tasty meat sauce. Many times I have had lasagna that was either over-baked, or had limp pasta. Here, the lasagna shined! So large of a serving that my wife could not finish it, much to her dismay . . . I had the Barolo Braised Short Rib - oh my living god! - so tender, so complete a dish, with the fork tender meat that melts in your mouth, complimented by a light polenta (I must emphasize the lightness here, as many restaurants serve polenta that is heavy and too rich. This did not compete with the short rib, rather it seamlessly became the foundation on which the richness of the meat was enhanced. I was blown away! But, the most amazing, and probably the most delectable part of the evening was finishing off with a luscious Chocolate Cake! OH, WOW!!! The cake was certainly moist and smooth. Yes, smooth! I could not tell there was cake at all, so smooth it was! And surprisingly (not surprising given the quality of this establishment) it wasn't too sweet, rather just enough to bring out the chocolatey goodness! I only wished that I ordered some hot coffee - the cake would have gone well with a great cup of coffee! Overall, I was very impressed with this restaurant! The old-town decor, the dim lights, the fantastic food (just like of the Italy of old!)- all contributing to a wonderful experience! Highly recommended!

Went to Il Porcellino for a weekday dinner and the place was buzzing. Packed, cozy, and everywhere…read moreyou looked there was a negroni in someone's hand. For antipasti we started with the humble roasted asparagus: heavily garlicky, generous with the parmesan, and perfectly roasted. Then came the highlight, the burrata lasagna, easily the best I've ever had. Hearty and creamy. We closed out the savory courses with the chicken Vesuvio, nicely charred and finished with herb butter, though it ran a little light on seasoning. For dessert, a delicious tiramisu to finish. Il Porcellino was a treat, and we'll be back soon.

Truly one of the most enjoyable Italian food experiences in Chicago. It's worth the effort to plan…read moreahead and make a reservation. Reservations are released 21 days ahead of time, which I personally find impossible to make. Every time I've checked over the last several years there have been no availability. Yesterday I decided to pop on their website again and was delighted to find that they had released same day dinner reservations for patio only dining. The weather was perfect for outdoor dining so I went ahead and booked a table for Friday night. I felt like I won the dinner lottery. Service was wonderful and I didn't mind sitting outside at all next to the road with cars. I actually never stepped foot in the restaurant so cannot comment on what it's like inside. But do not give up that patio dining reservation if it's available. All of our dishes were delicious. I was really impressed by the meatball appetizers, chicken vesuvio (the potatoes are a must get as a side if you skip this dish), and branzino. The meats and sauces were wonderfully balanced and tender. Nothing tasted overly salted. Ironically, the pasta felt less of a star compared to the other dishes. And of course I had to get the gelato, which was so aesthetically presented and the taste just reminded me of an Italian summer vacation.

Checked this spot off my list while celebrating a special occasion. They had a card waiting at our…read moretable, which was such a thoughtful touch. The vibe is dark, moody, and perfect for an intimate night out. Service was excellent. The chicken Parmesan was the star of the meal, huge portion and absolutely worth ordering. We also tried the Caesar salad, short rib, carbonara , potatoes, and tiramisu that were all delicious. My only feedback is that the wait between courses felt a bit long, and some of the ladyfingers in the tiramisu weren't fully soaked so it was a bit dry. Overall, a great experience with a beautiful atmosphere and generous portions.

I was in Chicago recently. I'm from there. Volare was one of my go-to spots when I worked at the…read moreInterContinental. It was like going home. The restaurant was remodeled and yet the same. Benny the owner greeted me warmly. My glass of wine turned into appetizers and a main. I had a Caprese to start. Everything was fresh, the plate was chilled and the tomato was somehow in season. I then enjoyed one of their classics, Linguini and clams with lemon zest and bottarga. Sometimes it's good going home.

It's not often to find a place that delivers 100% on everything - the food, the ambiance, and the…read moreservice! We chanced upon Volare while making our way to another restaurant but were too hungry/tired to keep searching as we were with our toddler. Also luckily it was not too busy when we got there as it was early -6pm. As soon as we walked in, a high chair was offered for the baby, and our stroller taken away to safety. A welcome water drink with an orange slice arrived, without request, and the bread basket saved the day for the hungry toddler. Our waiter was extremely helpful and nice and suggested something not entirely on the menu for the toddler which we appreciated so much. When I got up to find the bathroom, before I even had the chance to ask, one of the waiters just told me where to go, anticipating my need. When it was time to go, they boxed up our foods and gave us extra bread because our toddler loved it. Also - food wise - we tried the basics - the lasagna and a clam linguini - delicious. Wine was delicious. Prices were very reasonable, portions were pretty big. Overall 100% recommend this place.

We dined here on a Sunday before a hockey game and all four of us really enjoyed it. The ambiance…read morewas nice, a great casual vibe, but the service was superior, elevated beyond casual. The server was attentive and in tune with our table. The courses were properly paced and the food was delicious. We ordered the chicken parm, short rib ravioli, oreccheite salsiccia and salmon, with a starter of Caesar salad and meatballs. Everything was perfect. I know many places offer Caesar salads but this one was superb, perfectly dressed with light croutons and tasty dressing. We will definitely go back!

Such an amazing restaurant, I can't recommend enough. We came for dinner so the place was packed…read morewith people. The inside of the restaurant felt like a classic Italian restaurant you might find in Italy. Our waiter was super nice and gave some great wine recommendations. First, they bring you some bread and give you a small platter mixed with olive oil, fresh garlic, and Parmesan. This is the first time I've seen it done this way but it was delicious. The calamari was delicious, not too fried and oily but still had so much flavor to it. We also decided to order the peperoni pizza, which is just a magnificent pizza. It was just cooked perfectly with just the right amount of flavor and spice. I ordered the raviolacci toscani, which took a bit of time to come out (but understandable given the amount of people). It was just delicious. The meat filling had such a deep flavor and the sauce wasn't so heavy that I didn't want to finish it. I would recommend this to anyone that wants a good Italian meal with great portions. Reservations might be hard to get so plan ahead.

Amazing food and one of the best Italian meals I've had in Chicago in a while!…read more They have a great $30 three course weekday lunch special where you can choose from a variety of 3 different appetizers, entrees and desserts! I ordered the Aranchini (10/10 -one of the best I've ever had) -The rigatoni (8.5/10 -great texture and flavor) -The sorbet (8.5/10 -rich dense fruit flavor). Also got the mushroom and truffle pizza which was good but not the best I've ever had (7/10). All in all, an excellent choice for Italian and I would definitely come back, especially for the lunch special!

Alla Vita ended up being one of those happy accidents…read more I was in Chicago on a Tuesday looking for lunch, and surprisingly, many of the highly rated restaurants I had bookmarked were either completely closed or only opened for dinner. Alla Vita was almost a last-resort choice. I could not have been more wrong. First, the space is absolutely beautiful. The natural light, soaring ceilings, and elegant yet inviting interiors create the kind of atmosphere where you instantly want to settle in and stay awhile. It felt special without being stuffy. They even let me check my carry-on, which was such a thoughtful touch and set the tone for the level of hospitality we experienced throughout the meal. Service was excellent from start to finish. We ordered the spritz of the day, which featured elderflower and was wonderfully refreshing, along with another cocktail whose name I unfortunately can't remember. Both drinks were very enjoyable. neither was trying to reinvent the wheel, but for lunch, that's perfectly fine. Cocktails aren't necessarily what Alla Vita is known for, and they complemented the meal beautifully. For starters, we had the octopus and the burrata, and both dishes were more interesting than expected. Burrata can sometimes feel a bit one-note, but they paired it with elements that added texture and complexity. The octopus was similarly creative in its accompaniments. I always feel a little hesitant critiquing dishes I couldn't possibly execute myself, and octopus is certainly one of them, but if I had one tiny note, it was just a touch chewier than I personally prefer - perhaps ever so slightly overdone. Even so, the flavors and the thoughtful combinations around it made it a memorable dish. For pasta, we asked our server to choose her favorite, and she recommended the rigatoni with vodka sauce. It absolutely lived up to the recommendation. Rich, comforting, and perfectly executed. And then there was the wood-fired black truffle mushroom pizza. It was perfect. Truly. As someone who is admittedly a bit of a pizza snob, I don't say that lightly. By the end, we were too full for dessert, which I slightly regret. We lingered long after the lunch rush had ended, chatting away, and never once felt rushed or encouraged to give up the table. If you're looking for a place with gorgeous surroundings, warm hospitality, thoughtful food, and a vibe that invites you to slow down and enjoy your company, Alla Vita is an easy recommendation. What started as my backup plan turned out to be one of my favorite meals of the trip.

What a blast .. Cam best bartender in Chicago.. this is a must do in Little Italy . Total funread more

Heidi and I made it out to Little Joe's for the first time tonight and had a blast hanging out with…read moreKevin and his crew! Kevin had his Jambalaya on tap in the kitchen and it was exquisite. Spicy, hot temp and very fresh. Bar had some good taps and tons of non beer options for those that don't drink beer. It looks like the bar usually has a mexican kitchen and tacos available for purchase. Bar has touch tunes and a patio, great ambiance. For seating, you can pick from high tops, the bar and booths. We will definitely be back soon to this great neighborhood spot!

Viaggio was very highly recommended to us by friends who had eaten there. Our experience exceeded…read moretheir recommendation. We were greeted by a friendly hostess and shown immediately to our table. The server was prompt in greeting us also. My wife ordered the special, lamb chops. She said they were absolutely delicious. I ordered chicken Parmesan, which also was very good. We will definitely return for dinner very soon. We had a five star experience.

The food was delicious, the rigatoni vodka was creamy but still light! The eggplant parmesan came…read morewith alfredo tortellini that was crispy and delicious. Their house made red blend was also pretty good. The service is really what made this 5 stars, our server was super friendly and helpful, made the bday celebration perfect, and the owner was also very sweet! Can't wait to come back

Food was incredible! We had the mussels, class with linguine, and a 4 cheese pizza and everything…read morewas amazing! Elliot was an incredible server! His recommendations were on point, food and wine! We sat in the bar area and the ambiance was perfect! I can't recommend this restaurant more! 10/10 will return next time we are in town. Thanks Elliot!

Made reservations to sit inside, which is welcoming and fun, but they had open tables in patio we…read morewe opted for that and it was awesome good choice. Great food, and our waiter Holden was awesome.